CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Oregon State University men’s soccer team battled with Portland on Sunday night at Paul Lorenz Field, but couldn’t find an open look on goal and took a 1-0 loss.

“I thought we got on top of them early,” said head coach Steve Simmons, “but we weren’t able to convert. [Portland] did a good job towards the end of the first half to swing the momentum and I thought we started well in the second half, but we couldn’t get on the ball as much.

“I thought they dictated play a little more than we liked and, as we got to the end, we both made a change and they capitalized on theirs while we didn’t. That was the difference in my mind.”

Senior Timmy Mueller (Post Falls, Idaho) had a handful of looks for the Beavers (2-5) in the opening stanza, taking two header shots off a pair of corner kicks from classmate Jaime Miralles (Vinaròs, Spain), but both looks went wide of the target.

The teams went into the locker rooms evened at 0-0 after redshirt-junior Ryan Vincent (Newberg, Ore.) made a pair of saves to keep the Pilots (4-2) off the board. Vincent would end the game with a season-high seven saves.

Portland broke the scoreless tie in the 73rd minute after Jason Romero played through a few Beaver defenders and found teammate Rey Ortiz on the attacking third. Ortiz fired off the shot from the right wing just inside the box into the lower left slot for a 1-0 Pilot lead.

OSU had a few more chances to bury the equalizer, the most notable coming from a set piece just outside the box after a Portland foul. The attempt from Mueller caromed off the crossbar and into the six-yard box, but the Beavers were unable to find room for a follow-up shot in the final few minutes.

The Pilots would go on to claim the win.

“We’re extremely disappointed, obviously with the rivalry game,” added Simmons. “The guys will have to respond and I believe it will be a good revelation of character.”

Oregon State remains at home later this week to take on the [14/21] University of the Pacific on Friday, September 22, at Paul Lorenz Field. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. PT.

For more information on the Oregon State men’s soccer team, visit OSUBeavers.com or follow the club @BeaverMSoccer on Twitter

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